Hello all! New bp and I have a quick question on feeding!

[Fascinate]

Hey! I rescued a ball python from where I work (petsmart). My managers werent letting me feed him appropriate sized rodents and were making me feed him fuzzies/pinkies (He's about 12 inches long). So He was under weight when I got him and everyone kept forgetting to mist him in back, so hes having a hard shed.

The story goes, I fed him a hopper because he was under weight and I felt so bad for him because he is a GOOD eater! Even when he's shedding he eats! Considering we have captive hatched, its extremely rare we actually get bp's that actually eat frozens. In any case, he had a prolapse the next day after he got bought...and my manager came up to me and told me it was because I fed him a small hopper. And that he was "bloated and the mouse was too big for him causing the prolapse". I told her the 1 and a half diameter rule and she claims it was still too big for him. And that he would have to be fed multiple pinkies and small prey items for the rest of his life, because he would always prolapse. I told her no, that wasnt true.

He prolapsed after he was bought by this couple with a six year old kid (they were buying it for the kid) and they started to handle him right away! They didnt give him time to adjust, and he was always a bit skittish anyway. I told her prolapses were common in bp's and cornsnakes, and that they can do it when their stressed/pissed off and to put him in some sugar water, put some saline solutions on it, and some ky jelly.

But it wasnt in our "procedures" so the couple returned him and they put him in back...on dry paper towels for two days. (I was currently out of town at the time when they called me about it). So, it ended up getting infected and they had to take him to the vet. Where he proceeded to get out of his cage and get lost for a couple days after the surgery to pop his hemipenes back in (couldnt they just, take the hemipenes out? we werent planning to breed him, after all).

In any case, once he was found and he healed they decided to put him up for adoption because it could "Prolapse again". In any case. This brings me to my actual question!

Should I feed him once every five days to put weight on him? Or once every seven? Im feeding him mice. And Will switch over to rats once he gets too big for his mice. He's about 4 months old, about 12 inches long, not exactly sure how much he weighs. I'll weigh him at work one day.

And I decided to promply name him Spartacus , he's one tough boy!

[Skittles1101]

You should be able to feed him every 5 days if he eats. I did that for my first bp because he was tiny too, and he eats like a champ. Once he starts eating larger prey I'd change it to 7 days.

Unfortunately with Petsmart and the likes, they are only going to replace it with another underfed and dehydrated bp

[Fascinate]

Yeah, I know. ): Im the one who takes care of the reptiles, and I have to say, most of ours are good and healthy because I pay constant attention to them. I dont listen to the managers, which only leads me to getting "talks" every week.

Alright awesome! He's such a good eater. I just didnt want to "power feed".

[Homegrownscales]

I agree with the above. But you may want to tell the manager that Dehydration causes constipation and constipation will cause a prolapse which is much more likely the case with this little guy. A hopper wouldn't do that unless it was far to bug of a meal and at 12" long I don't see that being the cause.
Point being I don't think handling was the cause of the prolapse. I see the constipation being the cause and the handling was just what brought it to light.

[Skittles1101]

Especially since he's only on mice, I can't see feeding every 5 days having a negative affect. It's good to know at least your store has you to care for them, I can't even go to my local Petco/Petsmart anymore because I always leave angry. I'd say if he takes the mice consistently for a month-1 1/2 months you can easily switch to rat pups.

[Fascinate]

Yeah, I talked to the vet and he told me that dehydration / improper heating/humidity issues could be the case. Which, would make sense. Considering everyone forgets to make sure the bp's humidity is 5-0-60 I could totally see that being the cause of it, and Im not always around to check.

I really do hate big chain pet stores even though i work at one lol. The problem being the associates arent educated enough, an their information is out dated.

[Skittles1101]

Yeah, I talked to the vet and he told me that dehydration / improper heating/humidity issues could be the case. Which, would make sense. Considering everyone forgets to make sure the bp's humidity is 5-0-60 I could totally see that being the cause of it, and Im not always around to check.

I really do hate big chain pet stores even though i work at one lol. The problem being the associates arent educated enough, an their information is out dated.

Yes I agree, my problem with them is like you said, they are uneducated and most of their info is incorrect some way or another...but they also don't do anything to change it. I'm sure they get numerous complaints regarding the look and care of their pets and nothing will change because it just "costs too much" to take care of them properly. You don't need to be a herp genius to see half the reptiles in Petsmart/Petco look sick...

[Vypyrz]

Hello, and to BP.net. It's great that you decided to take care of the little guy and it's always great to see another North Carolinian on the forum...

[Johan]

Seems like you care dearly for your new ball, but the 1.5 rule apply to corn snakes and NOT ball pythons. Ball pythons can be fed prey that is equal to the size of the largest part of the body.

Welcome to the forums, and keep us updated on your new buddy

-Mark

[Popeye]

I really do hate big chain pet stores even though i work at one lol. The problem being the associates arent educated enough, an their information is out dated.

I agree, keep up the good work at petsmart and to BP.net